EAST LANSING — The Michigan State football coaching staff has plenty of issues to be concerned with this week as its prepares for an Ohio State program that has won 24 straight under coaching legend-in-the-making Urban Meyer.

The No. 2 Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) have more talent than the No. 10 Spartans (11-1, 8-0) have seen this season, making scheming a nightmare.

Michigan State's No. 1-rated defense, it would seem, faces the prospect of being overmatched -- and that could put the offense in the unfamiliar position of carrying the load.

If it turns into a track meet, it plays to the Buckeyes advantage. So MLive's Issue of the Week is: How can defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and the Spartans slow the Ohio State offense?

Former Michigan State great and five-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson can feel Narduzzi's pain, having confronted the read option during his career.

"Actually, Michael Vick was doing it first with Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett (with the Atlanta Falcons),'' Peterson said on The Drive with Jack Ebling show on Lansing's 730 AM on Monday. "It puts so much pressure on the defensive ends and linebackers, they have to make split-second reads. These athletic quarterbacks can take it 80 yards.

"That read option is a problem, it's a hard to play to stop. The quarterback is the extra guy, any misread or a guy taking a false step, and they can take it the distance.''

Not only do the Buckeyes feature a dynamic playmaker at quarterback in Braxton Miller — a guy that can take it 80 yards — but Carlos Hyde is a physical, 235-pound back who can also take it the distance.

The Buckeyes' offensive line has four seniors and 140 starts between them, and according to Ohio State offensive tackle Jack Mewhort, it will be a matter of business as usual.

"If we execute our base plays, we'll be all right,'' Mewhort said. "We've been through a lot of battles together, and we've pretty much seen it all.

"They (Michigan State) don't do a ton of different stuff. The game is going to be won in the trenches. It's going to be one of those classic, smash-mouth Big Ten football games, and we embrace that.''

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio's closing thoughts from last year's game with Ohio State, a 17-16 Buckeyes' win, indicated his defense wasn't strong or consistent enough.

"We have to be a little stronger on the point of attack,'' Dantonio said after the loss in East Lansing. "I thought (Carlos) Hyde slipped out and got four or five yards when we had him for no gain.''

Added Narduzzi: "I could probably pick 15 plays when we didn't make a play early in the game. We just didn't make enough plays today. We didn't get it done ... Number five (Miller) changed the game."

The Buckeyes out-rushed the Spartans 204-34 yards last season, chewing up the final 4:09 on the clock with three first downs on six consecutive running plays.

So what are the Spartans to do?

MIKE GRIFFITHMichigan State has a tremendous advantage in having as good of a scout team as there is to replicate the Buckeyes attack with redshirting freshman QB Damion Terry and Gerald Holmes, and the Spartans have seen their share of read option this season, so that's a good start.

Beyond that, from a scheme standpoint, Narduzzi will need to sell out to stop the run. That means bringing strong safety Isaiah Lewis closer to the offensive line and leaving Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes on islands. It's worth noting Lewis has appeared a step slow this season, so RJ Williamson is another option at strong safety if Lewis struggles.

It's not an Xs and Os issue — there's no schematic magic involved — as much as it is a talent and desire question. Can the Spartans match the incredible level of intensity they brought to the Michigan game? That's what they'll need to do to stand a chance.

JOSH SLAGTERBasically anybody who touches the ball for Ohio State averages 6.5 yards per carry, but Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller are the real workhorses of the offense. Michigan State will find out very early that this isn't the same Buckeyes offense it faced in Spartan Stadium last season. Schematically it's similar, but Miller and Hyde are much improved.

After torching Michigan for nearly 400 yards on the ground, both Miller and Hyde called the Ohio State offensive the line "best in the country." Whether that's true or not, it does include four experienced seniors. The Spartans' defensive line will need to match that push up front, because if it's Max Bullough and Isaiah Lewis making all the tackles, Ohio State already could be 5-6 yards downfield.

READER REACTION

What do you think Michigan State needs to do to stop the Buckeyes' offense? Should Narduzzi adjust his scheme and play more of a bend-but-don't-break defense? Is gambling with eight in the box taking too much of a chance? Are there any personnel moves you'd consider? Write your ideas and suggestions in the comments section below, and we'll address it again later this week.

(Mike Griffith is co-host of The Drive with Jack Ebling on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Lansing's 730 AM, WVFN)